Atomiser system for dispensing a fragrance

ABSTRACT

An atomiser device for dispensing a fragrance composition into the air. The device comprising an ultrasonic atomiser and a refill comprising a fragrance composition. The invention also includes a method of fragrancing the air utilising the atomiser device. A refill of the fragrance composition suitable for use in the atomiser device.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Ultrasonic atomisers have long been used to vapourise liquid fragrancecompositions to freshen the air. They offer advantages over alternativemethods (heated liquid electricals/candles for example) in that they donot require heating to operate. Which means they are safer, no nakedflames and they use much less power than heated emanators, so they canbe readily run with batteries for extended periods. This gives themflexibility of placement.

Such devices usually comprise a vibrating plate, a source of power, areservoir of liquid fragrance and a means to transport the liquidfragrance to the plate for atomisation.

Examples of such devices in the prior art are included in documentsJP3342095, US2008041972 A1, US2001042794A, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,446,880 B1and 6,341,732 B1. The contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference into the present application.

Problems associated with these devices include obtaining consistent andreliable emanation and leaks. The contact between the piezo vibratingplate and the source of the liquid fragrance must be in finely balancedto allow for successful operation. Drop out and un-atomised spray of theliquids is common when the plates are not vibrating optimally.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An atomiser for dispensing a fragrance; the atomiser comprising

-   -   a) an outer housing;    -   b) an orifice plate and piezo electric element;    -   c) a liquid reservoir, comprising a liquid to be atomised, the        liquid comprising a fragrance composition and a carrier solvent;        and    -   d) a liquid transport member

wherein the liquid transport member extends from within the liquidreservoir to abut the orifice plate; and wherein the liquid transportmember is substantially contained within the liquid reservoir and boththe liquid transport member and liquid reservoir are readily detachabletogether from the atomiser; and wherein the carrier solvent comprises atleast 50% by weight, branched chain alkanes.

DESCRIPTION

Piezo devices and systems for fragrancing the air in the art suffer froma variety of inefficiencies. Poorly aligned interfaces between thevibrating plates and the source of liquid fragrance to be atomised causemany difficulties. As does the rate at which fluid is delivered to theplate from the wick. A low fluid delivery rate means poor fragrancerelease rate and a high delivery rate gives rise to spray formation(incomplete atomisation).

It has surprisingly been found that a lot of these issues can beresolved by the use of particular solvents as carrier fluids in thefragrancing liquids to be atomised. Liquid fragrance compositionscontaining high concentrations of branched or iso-alkanes seem toprovide excellent atomising properties and delivery properties. Lowlevels of spray (large particle sizes) and very low residues (particledrop out) are obtained when high levels of branched alkane solvents areused in the carrier liquids.

Fragrance compositions containing at least 50% branched alkanes in thecarrier solvent have superior dispensing characteristics in ultrasonicatomising dispensers.

For the purposes of the present invention branched alkanes means anyalkanes that are not completely linear. They may have single or multiplebranching. Preferred alkanes are iso-alkanes.

Preferably the branched alkanes of the present invention comprisemixtures (or single compounds) with between 11 and 16 carbon atoms.

Commercial examples of useful branched alkanes include the Isopar™ classof products from Exxon mobile. A particularly advantageous branchedchain solvent for use in the present invention is Isopar M™.

Preferably the branched alkane carrier solvent has a boiling point ofbetween 240 and 270° C., preferably between 250 and 260 degrees ° C. andmost preferably between 252 and 258 degrees ° C.

Preferably the branched alkane carrier solvent has a molecular weight ofbetween 160 and 200, preferably between 185 and 195 and most preferably188.

Preferably the carrier solvent consists substantially of branched chainalkanes.

The fragrancing liquid of the present invention is preferably composedof

-   -   a) Fragrance composition 2-25% by weight and    -   b) Carrier solvent 75-98% by weight

Preferably the liquid comprises at least 5% by weight of fragrancecomposition, preferably at least 10% by weight fragrance composition andmost preferably at least 15% by weight fragrance composition.

Preferably the liquid comprises at least 50% by weight carrier solvent,preferably at least 75%, more preferably at least 80% and mostpreferably at least 85% by weight of carrier solvent.

The liquid transport member is a key part of the device. For successfuloperation the liquid transport member and orifice plate have to interactsuccessfully. The liquid transport member may be made from any suitablematerial. Preferably the liquid transport member moves liquid from thereservoir to the plate by wicking or capillary action.

Preferably the liquid transport member of the present invention is awick comprising paper, cotton, nylon, or polypropylene. Most preferablythe wick will be formed from polypropylene.

Preferably the wick is between 4 cm and 14 cm in length, more preferablybetween 5 cm and 12 cm and most preferably between 6 and 10 cm inlength.

Preferably the atomiser is powered by battery. Preferably the atomisercomprises at least one battery, and more preferably at least twobatteries.

The atomiser may require between 1 and 12 volts to operate, morepreferably 3-4.5 volts.

The atomiser may be provided with control circuitry to allow for regularactivation of the device over time. Settings may be provided to controllength of activation and time between activations. This allows thedevice to be left in the home or office and provide a constant releaseof fragrance over many weeks and days.

Activations of the orifice plate to release atomised liquid fragrancecomposition may last between 1 second and 30 seconds, preferably between2 seconds and 15 seconds, more preferably between 3 seconds and 10seconds.

Timing between activations may be between 2 mins and 30 mins, preferablybetween 5 mins and 20 mins, most preferably between 7 mins and 15 mins.

The skilled person can vary these parameters depending on the intensityof the fragrance desired, strength of fragrance used and concentrationof the fragrance composition within the fragrance liquid.

A second aspect to the present invention involves a method offragrancing the air comprising activating the device of the first aspectof the invention.

This may be manually or automatically by setting up dispensingparameters. Automatic dispensing will require control circuits toactivate the device at intervals.

A third aspect of the present invention is a separate refill offragrance suitable for use as the liquid reservoir with the device ofthe first aspect of the invention.

This will comprise a container suitable for standalone sale.

Preferably this will be a small flask or bottle. This may be made of anymaterial. Preferably this will be made of glass or plastic.

This will preferably be readily insertable into the atomiser device ofthe present invention. This should be such that the user may easilyremove empty refills. The user may also decide to replace a partiallyused refill for a refill of a differing fragrance if desired.

The fragrance refill will comprise

-   -   1) a liquid; further comprising A fragrance composition and a        carrier solvent; and    -   2) a wick, extending from inside the refill to the outside;

wherein the carrier solvent comprises at least 50% by weight of branchedalkanes.

Including the wick with the refills prevents the mixing of fragrances inthe wick. A rapid fragrance change can be carried out without blendingdifferent fragrances.

Wicks can get clogged in time. Using a new wick with each refillprevents this from happening.

The refill may comprises at least 5% by weight of fragrance composition,preferably at least 10% by weight fragrance composition and mostpreferably at least 15% by weight fragrance composition.

The refill liquid may comprise at least 60% by weight carrier solvent,preferably at least 75%, more preferably at least 80% and mostpreferably at least 85% by weight of carrier solvent.

The carrier solvent may comprises at least 60% by weight of branchedalkanes, preferably at least 70% by weight of branched alkanes and mostpreferably at least 90% by weight branched alkanes.

The carrier solvent of the refill may consist entirely ofbranched-alkanes.

The branched alkane carrier solvent may have a boiling point of between240 and 270° C., preferably between 250 and 260° C. and most preferablybetween 252 and 258 degrees ° C.

The branched alkane carrier solvent may have a molecular weight ofbetween 170 and 200, preferably between 185 and 195 and most preferably188.

A particularly preferred refill contains:

-   -   15% by weight of fragrance composition; and    -   85% by weight of a branched alkane solvent.

More preferably the branched alkane solvent comprises Isopar-M®.

A device comprising the refill above and a polypropylene wick has beenshown to yield excellent fragrance dispersion characteristics withvirtually no residues remaining.

1. An atomiser adapted to dispense a fragrance; the atomiser comprisinga) an outer housing; b) an orifice plate and piezo electric element; c)a liquid reservoir, comprising a liquid to be atomised, the liquidcomprising a fragrance composition and a carrier solvent; and d) aliquid transport member wherein the liquid transport member extends fromwithin the liquid reservoir to abut the orifice plate; and wherein theliquid transport member is substantially contained within the liquidreservoir and both the liquid transport member and liquid reservoir arereadily detachable together from the atomiser; and wherein the carriersolvent comprises at least 50% by weight, branched chain alkanes.
 2. Theatomiser of claim 1 wherein the liquid transport member is a wickcomprising paper, cotton, nylon, or polypropylene.
 3. The atomiser ofclaim 2 wherein the liquid transport member is a wick comprisingpolypropylene.
 4. The atomiser of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises:a) a fragrance composition 2-25% and b) a carrier solvent 75-98% byweight.
 5. The atomiser of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises atleast 5% by weight of fragrance composition.
 6. The atomiser of claim 1,wherein the liquid comprises at least 50% by weight of carrier solvent.7. The atomiser of claim 1, wherein the carrier solvent is greater than99% by weight a branched alkane solvent.
 8. The atomiser of claim 1,wherein the branched alkane carrier solvent comprises C₁₁-C₁₆ carboncompounds.
 9. The atomiser of claim 1, wherein the branched alkanecarrier solvent has a boiling point of between 240 and 270° C.
 10. Theatomiser of claim 1, wherein the branched alkane carrier solvent has amolecular weight of between 170 and
 200. 11. The atomiser of claim 1,wherein the carrier solvent consists of branched chain alkanes.
 12. Theatomiser of claim 1, wherein the atomiser comprises at least onebattery, preferably at least two batteries.
 13. The atomiser of claim 1,wherein the atomiser requires between 1 and 12 volts to operate.
 14. Theatomiser of claim 1, which additionally comprises control circuitryoperative to provide regular activation of the device over time.
 15. Amethod of fragrancing the air comprising activating the device ofclaim
 1. 16. A refill of fragrance adapted for use as the liquidreservoir with the device of claim 1, comprising; a liquid; a fragrancecomposition and a carrier solvent; and a wick, extending from inside therefill to the outside; wherein the carrier solvent comprises at least50% by weight of branched alkanes.
 17. The refill of claim 16 whereinthe liquid comprises at least 5% by weight of fragrance composition. 18.The refill of claim 16 wherein the liquid comprises at least 50% byweight carrier solvent.
 19. The refill according to claim 16, whereinthe carrier solvent is comprises at least 60% by weight of branchedalkanes.
 20. The refill of claim 16, wherein the carrier solventconsists of branched-alkanes.
 21. The refill of claim 16, wherein thebranched alkanes comprise C₁₁ to C₁₆ branched alkanes.
 22. The refill ofclaim 16, wherein the branched alkane carrier solvent has a boilingpoint of between 240 and 270 degrees C.
 23. The refill of claim 16,wherein the branched alkane carrier solvent has a molecular weight ofbetween 170 and
 200. 24. The atomiser of claim 2 wherein the wick isbetween 4 cm and 14 cm in length.